Zika: No restriction on Malaysians visiting Singapore

A health technician analyses a blood sample from a patient bitten by a mosquito at the National Institute of Health in Lima, Peru on Feb 2, 2016. - Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR: Although there has been a reported case of Zika virus infection in Singapore, the Health Ministry has not issued any restriction on Malaysians going to the country.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, however, advised Malaysians who wished to visit the country to always be alert, especially if faced with symptoms like fever.

He said the Government has conducted screening tests on 90,000 individuals who have entered Malaysian through Singapore, apart from giving health reminders at all entry points into the country.

“The Malaysian and Singaporean governments are always cooperative when doing screening tests on individuals who have visited Latin America countries such as Brazil, Venezuela and others, especially within the period of last week,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday.

Last Friday, Zika was detected in Singapore when one of its permanent residents, who had visited Sao Paolo, Brazil from March 27-May 7, tested positive with the virus. – Bernama